Austin: Red Hot Carnivale

ZACH Theatre’s Red, Hot & Soul Dazzles With Venetian Carnivale Theme

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Charles Quinn Photography

THE SCENE: Austin’s ZACH Scott Theatre was the setting for one of the Capital City’s most notable spring sociable events. The 300 guests who were fortunate enough to be a part of ZACH Theatre’s Red, Hot & Soul were treated to an unforgettable evening of fundraising which included a revamped format, dazzling performances, an inspiring theme, and fundraising that kept the fun going into throughout the evening.

THE VIBE: The black tie crowd knew they were in for a special evening before they entered the lobby of the Topfer Theatre on the ZACH campus for cocktails. Upon entering, guests were dazzled by a stunning display of masquerade art and floral design created by celebrity florist David Kurio, which made for the perfect, modern step and repeat, where many guests were spotted taking photos to commemorate the evening.

Once inside the lobby of the Topfer Theatre guests sipped on their favorite cocktails while mingling and admiring the Venetian-inspired masks of other patrons The cocktail hour happened against the backdrop of performance artists throughout the lobby that gave the space an extra layer of fun and excitement for the festivities ahead.

In a new twist for this year’s event, the action then moved to the Topfer Theatre stage for the main program. Many jaws dropped as the crowd took their seats on the main stage where they were greeted by aerialists above the stage for additional ambiance of a Venetian Carnivale.

KXAN anchor Jennifer Sanders served as emcee and effortlessly kept the evening going at a brisk, informative pace throughout. Highlights of the program included a delicious multi-course meal, touching tributes, entertaining performances from various members of the ZACH Theater company, and a spirited live auction where winners of packages were greeted with confetti poppers and champagne. The evening was capped off where the fun initially began in the lobby of the Topfer Theater for a lively after-party. Guests were seen dancing the night away, capping off a fabulous evening that those fortunate enough to be a part of will not soon forget.

THE NONPROFIT: The event, co-chaired by Donn Gauger and Maxx Judd, raised funds for ZACH Scott Theatre. Proceeds raised from the event went to fund ZACH Scott Theatre programs. Each year, the ZACH Scott Theatre serves over 125,000 Central Texans which includes over 55,000 children through an engaging mix of programs including camps, classes, performances as well as education and outreach programs.